Chapter 10: Kill The Inner Pain!
Tatsumi charged at the snarling beast, bouncing from stone to bloody stone, avoiding the deep depths of blood below. Upon first seeing Tyrant, he was convinced it was a dragon of sorts, but he saw now that it heavily resembled a bat as well, a true monster indeed. but Tatsumi was intent on slaying it none the less. Tyrant screamed at his approached, a numbing rotten gas seeped from its mouth, aiming to paralyze or digest his entire body in one cloud. He dived to the left, his foot slipping on the bloody slick, which was all for the better, Tyrants hooked claw swiped inches from his head. It was then that Tatsumi realized, he would not be able to use his Teigu, he felt like an idiot thinking he could. The claws came down again from overhead, Tatsumi leaped to the next stone, not landing atop in but on its edge, the lower half of his body submerged in the bloody muck. He smelt hot copper and almost gagged, pulling himself over the edge and on to level ground.
"You move well, boy. Even without my power you still seem to have purpose"
Tatsumi snickered "Are you blind ? Or are you ignorant to what's happened to me recently ... I've found newer reasons to fight. My goal has not changed yet"
"To overthrow the Empire ? Pah, you would gamble your life to kill a fat minister and a puppet child ?"
"I would gamble my life for the one I love! You clearly have forgotten or fail to see..." He retorted
Tyrant laughed, slamming his horned tail to the right of Tatsumi, cracking it like a plate "You mean the ice bitch ?"
"She is not only my comrade and leader, she is my love" He said, rolling away from the sinking stone.
"I'm sure you love her, especially seeing how she kidnapped you, used your sex organs and kissed you every now and then" Tyrant jested
Tatsumi caught a glimpse of the water below him, before it had been red, now it seemed to darken to a shade of ...purple ? Yes that was right, the sea of blood had changed right before his eyes, it still smelt and felt like blood, but it was as if the hue had been adjusted. It was odd and held no relevance to the fight, or so he thought, but it found its way to the back of his mind, as if laying an egg or an idea. Tyrant seemed not to notice, he slammed his tail down again, smashing the large stepping stone in two. Tatsumi pushed off the stone as it split, hurling him towards the sneering dragon, with his sword extended he thrust deep into its back. The blade only went in a few inches before snapping in two, the skin of this danger beast was almost twice as solid as its armor. Tyrant roared and stood up n its hind legs, Tatsumi lost grip of his broken hilt, letting it tumble in the murky violet sea below. He grasped a nearby spine and held on for dear life, now weaponless, victory seemed slim in winning this fight against Incursio.
'If the Teigu's spirit wins, it could kill you, Tatsumi' Dorothea spoke in his head, how was she communicating with him ? And why could he felt flares of power and devastation outside of his mortal body, was the mansion in trouble ? He had to finish this fight first. before pursuing these curiosities.
Tatsumi shook his head, speaking to Tyrant now "You're not wrong...I was scared and new to the charming aspects of sex and the female body"
"In your last moments, you decide to speak some truth, maybe I'll make a fine puppet out of you then!" Tyrant Laughed
To the dragons disgust, Tatsumi laughed too "I did not say you were completely right though! There's more to her than just lust and power" He said cheerily
"What else do humans like you desire ?! Filthy beings!"
"She makes me feel loved. She makes me feel safe and strong ... She was my enemy but we are both changing and so will you!"
Tatsumi climbed up Tyrants back, grasping each spine like a rut in a ladder. Climbing up the nape of its neck and onto its furry brow where four pronged horns poked out to the sky. The beast shook its head violently, he wedged himself between two of the horns and fought back, driving his feet into it's temple and upper eye, Tyrant had four eyes after all. Tyrant roared and snarled, the hard kicks throwing it off-balance and staggering it into the remains of the castle. The beast snapped a horn off on a stone pillar and came to a screaming fall in a rain of rubble, Tatsumi felt his body erupt in pain as hewas pelted with bricks and broken timber. He knew the pain he felt was imaginary, but the bones broken in this simulation felt real. He found a collarbone and two ribs were broken by the fall and hail of bricks, but he was mostly intact. Tyrant stirred beneath him.
"MISERABLE BRAT!" it hissed under its breath
He ceased the snapped horn from the ground and held to one of the four glaring red eyes "You are going to submit to be, and help protect my friends"
"LIAR, I WON'T SERVE SOMEONE WHO'S RESOLVE..."
"SHE IS MY RESOLVE !" He screamed, driving the severed horn into the beast's glowing eye. The sea was now turning a dark blue, the sky clearing.
Tyrant Reared and howled in agony, tearing the horn and a piece of its eye from the head. But Tatsumi was already on top of the creature, punching and kicking at its eye, until the inside of its skill could be seen among the mushy remains in its eye socket. He leaped off it's head, avoiding a flailing hand that did more damage to Tyrant then it did to him. The dragon cursed in a tongue not heard by Tatsumi and seemed to disappear into thin air, becoming transparent in a matter of seconds.
"Incursio's ability..." He breathed
Tatsumi found it hard to believe that a beast the size of a house silently disappeared without a trace, but the courtyard was now empty, wasn't it ?. He reached into the rubble and pulled free a rusted iron bar from one of the window frames, tossed it upward and caught it, testing it's weight. It certainly was not Bulat's spear but it would serve his purpose if push came to shove. He moved slowly and silently, turning his body every few steps, scanning his surroundings for what lurked invisibly after him. He followed the thin trail of blood on the cobblestones, each drop of blood bigger than the last as the beast bleed heavily from its empty eyes socket and teeth. He held the iron rod outward, ready to skewer anything that moves. The trail stopped at the edge of the courtyard, leading out of the gate and down a long hill into a field below. The field that had once been submerged by the sea was barren, but he could see small saplings take root and grow.
'Tyrant had said my world was filled with bloodshed and death ... Does he see what it has become now ? Am I the only one able to see this ...' Tatsumi thought
IT had occurred to him that during his battle with Tyrant, not only was he battling Incursio, but he was also battling his inner conflicts. The field was foggy, limiting his field of view to only 5 meters in front of him. Its was in this fog that he heard Tyrant sneer and laugh, hatred easily distinguishable in both. The dragon was circling him now, he knew it.
"Esdese ... Give me strength ..." He prayed
"PRAYING TO YOUR WOMEN ARE YOU ? HOW TOUCHING" Tyrant teased. Tatsumi noticed how Tyrant had called her 'Woman' and not 'Ice Bitch' or 'Whore'
"She is important to me. And because you are my Teigu, she is important to you also!" Tatsumi said chilling
There was a long pause, then Tyrant replied cooly "If you survive our little match"
It was unmistakable, what had once been killer intent had now turned into fierce rivalry, almost competitive. Incursio, much like this world, was changing rapidly with each inch of control he gained. Tatsumi Realized that the creature known as Tyrant died long ago, the creature he fought now was only a guardian or spirit of the Teigu is later became. If Tatsumi was gaining control over Incursio, it meant he was also, bit by bit, gaining control over Tyrant. He had to push further, he could sense the shake and rumble of explosions, outside of the operating room, it was urgent and he needed out.
'I'll have to anger him into moving' Tatsumi planned "I wish I had earned Sheele's sword ... it was always far superior to Incursio" Tatsumi sighed
He felt a rippled of movement behind him, the beast had stop circling "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY ?" The rage in its voice was unmistakable
"Sheele, her Teigu is a greater weapon than you will ever be ... you're nothing but cowards armor"
"I AM SO MUCH MORE THAN ARMOR, YOU WHELP!" A new voice boomed
"Hello Incursio, so you decide to reveal yourself eh ?" Tatsumi said, a wider grin spreading across his face.
"I AM TYRANT. I AM INCURSIO, I AM DOOM!" The Teigu roared, bursting from the fog and its invisibility.
"Gotcha" Tatsumi whispered humorously
He turned and hurled the iron bar, it shot through the air like an arrow, flying towards its target with straight silent accuracy. The bar hit right on target, entering the open socket of the salivating, screaming beast and exiting out the back of its head. The beast flailed about on the ground, but Tatsumi knew it was only nerves and spinal fluid that controlled this beast now. He limped forward, the broken ribs seemed to be healing, as if they were never broken. Tatsumi collapsed onto the beasts side, panting heavily and grinning at the kill he had made. Then the sky had filled with a calmer voice, but a sharp edge still remained
The voice was calm and obedient "I'll serve you, but I won't hesitate to take control if you put us in danger" Incursio hummed
"fine, you and I will work together. But don't think I won't destroy you if you endanger Esdese" Tatsumi mused
"Yes...Tatsumi"
Tatsumi cupped his hand and yelled to the sky "YO, Dorothea. Get me out of here would ya ?"
No response came.
"Dorothea ?" He called aloud, growing
None at all.
Lubbock Slipped in past the charging, shouting guards. Few of which had clothes on, all the off duty schmucks met a fiery death. All he needed to do was throw on some old guard uniform and look as equally terrified as those around him and he blended in perfectly. He had slipped by defenses with complete ease, leaving Susanoo to continue an assault on the Jaegers, whilst Lubbock conducted a thorough search of the mansion's lower sectors, despite Najenda's clear orders to stay put. Lubbock wanted to end Tatsumi before the others, he did not want them to suffer in doing so. He followed multiple corridors and down various flights of stairs until he reached a steel bulkhead door with a medical sign bolted to its frame, the infirmary.
He took a deep breath and spoke up "We are evacuating! The mansion is unstable!"
"I'm busy with a patient!" Said Dorothea
Lubbock knocked harder "Miss, I really recommend that you get out of there before the whole mansion comes down on us"
"Ugh hang on, lemme get the door!" She groaned
"Thank you" Lubbock replied in kind.
Instead of a kind face coming to the door, a scalpel thrust through the door and barely missed Lubbock "NICE TRY, NIGHT RAID!"
Lubbock sneered and push through the door, forcing all his weight forward and rolled under her swiping scalpel. She stabbed wildly at him as he ducked and rolled across the floor, her attacks were random and unskilled, it was obvious she was not a fighter. Lubbock lashed his threads about a table leg and pulled him across the floor like a trolley, hitting the wall and jumping upwards onto the table, his threads dashing outwards to wrap the giggling doctor. The threads missed her but latched onto her hand, biting into her skin. she sneered
"I'll kill you!" She hissed
Lubbock looked over the room and his eyes widened, Tatsumi was belted down to the table, IV lines and monitors surrounded him, the steady beep of his heart rate the only sound in the room now.
"L...Let me go!" She groaned, the thin twine cutting into her delicate hands.
"One move and I'll tear the hand off! Now what were you doing to Tatsumi ?"
"I don't have to answer you!"
He tightened his grip, thin red lines crossing her wrists "I won't ask again, what were you doing to him?"
Her composure broke "T...Teigu Stabilization ... After he killed that Chelsea chick, his Teigu rejected him..."
Those were the words he least wanted to hear "So it's true ... he did kill her then ?" Moving his glance to the unconscious enemy atop the gurney.
She grinned viciously "Does that make you feel raw ? Hmmm ? The way he plowed his sword through her chest like slaughter meat"
Like a whip crack of lightning, her right shoulder tore open "Don't get comfortable with me, bitch. Now tell me, what condition is he in ?"
She wiped an agonized tear from her eye "H...His vitals had stabilized not long ago, I'm supposed to wake him when the procedure is a success"
"Was it a success ?" Lubbock asked, now curious as to what the procedure would accomplish.
She nodded "Not long ago his connection to his Teigu grew stronger and more steady. He has reestablished control over it ... All I needed to do was ive him the medication needed to awake him from the anesthetic. I doubt that's going to happen now ... isn't it ?"
Lubbock nodded "He will be lucky enough to die in his sleep, you won't be"
Tatsumi sat on a nearby tree stump, calling out to Dorothea through the mental link connected to a Teigu she had rigged up, no response. Tatsumi was beginning to get worried, there were explosions and fighting going on outside of this realm, in the world where his body lay, unprotected and vulnerable. He feared that the Scientist had been overwhelmed or killed and he was trapped in this world until the anesthetic wore off and he woke from this simulation. Was she dead ? he could not feel any pain or shock, so he guessed his body was in no harm...yet.
"I need to get out of here .. or we are both toast" Tatsumi grumbled, kicking a simulated pebble aside.
"I can sense a multitude of Teigu, something is certainly going on outside this" Incursio said
"You can sense other Teigu ?" Tatsumi asked
"We all share a bond, created by the old Emperor. You could say we are siblings ..."
"Can you get us out of this ?"
"Tyrant, the creature I was made from, has a very adaptive nature ... We are connected together through neural pathways. I could activate myself and transform with you. We should be able to adapt to the anesthetic and wake up ... maybe"
"Maybe ? You don't know if it will work ?"
"Maybe ..." Incursio sighed
"Do it, we have little choice. We are both in danger right now ... if there truly is a fight going on"
"What about your woman, the one with the blue hair. Won't she protect us ?"
"I fear she is preoccupied ..." Tatsumi generally feared for her, and himself.
Lubbock moved closer, Fear filled her eyes with each step he progressed. She saw no other way to escape but sacrifice a small part of herself. She was an alchemist, her wounds would heal if she applied the right combination of minerals and medicines. She took a deep breath and leaped into action.
she sneered and yelled "I WON'T BE TAKEN BY THE LIKES OF YOU!"
She darted away, tearing her own hand off with the razor accuracy of Lubbocks threads. She screamed in agony as the cords cut through her tissue, muscles and bones. But despite the pain, she continued to move, tipping bookshelves behind her and diving through the door as blood trailed behind her. Lubbock thought to pursue her but decided not to, his mission was here with the traitor Tatsumi. He turned to his next target and froze, Tatsumi was now fully clad in armor, unlike any armor he seen Tatsumi wield before.
"What in the name of..." Lubbock gasped
Tatsumi's Incursio had changed, no doubt a result of the new stabilization between owner and Teigu that the operation had succeeded in cultivating. He looked more like a beast than armored knight. His helmet was the snarling maw of a dragon, no doubt Tyrant was heavily influenced in the design, as if the dragon had taken his body whole. Tatsumi's face could be seen between the toothy jaws of the helmet, still sleeping or unconscious, but was he unaware of Lubbock's presence ? The armor was covered in steel scales and iron thorns that ran down his back, legs, things and arms, he feet seeming to end in sharp clawed feet that looked like they could launch you to the moon in one hop. This new evolution of Tatsumi's Teigu frightened Lubbock
'To think we were going to fight that... were' he repeated to himself, Tatsumi would not wake in time to test his new abilities.
He flipped his hand out and wrapped a thick coil about Tatsumi's neck, he would hang his old friend from the rafters. But instead the thread snapped as if it were ordinary thread and not a murderous weapon devised by an old emperor king. Lubbock sighed, he expected as much, the armor was stronger than steel, but that was not his strongest thread, not by far. He moved closer to Tatsumi, drawing a woven knife from his belt, he would aim it directly in the gap in Tatsumi's helmet, the only weak spot in view. A moment of regret and sadness filled him, why did Tatsumi have to kill her, there could have been another way, now there was no going back for anyone.
"Goodbye...old friend" He plunged the blade down.
Akame and Kurome dashed at one another, their skills evenly matched, their blades whistling in the air like a high pitch battle cry when their steel met, slash after slash. Akame was silent and swift, whereas Kurome was giggling and wild as they parried blows. The older sister swept her foot under the younger, tripping Kurome over and thrusting her blade downward, Kurome grinned as the undead hand of a slain warrior grabbed the blade mid decent and held it inches away from their mistresses face. Akame leaped back as the undead warrior lunged out at her, then dropped into two pieces as Akame finished
"Your fodder won't be enough to stop me, Kurome" Akame said coldly
"I have many more Onee-Chan!" Kurome teased
They charged into one another again, their steel grinding against each other, sounding like chattering teeth as they forced all their strength into this deadlock. Akame noticed Najenda and Mine across the courtyard, crossing blades, shootings fists and exploding pumpkin blasts with the frozen foe, General Esdese. Najenda looked worn out and Mine's Teigu was close to overheating. Leone was gripped in a fierce battle with the reanimation of Wave, her regenerative healing and his undead mindless obedience were a close match, it seemed wave had retained much of his old strength and agility.
'Where is Lubbock and Suu ?' Akame wondered, they were both due to join the fight soon.
As if summoned by the very thought, the mansion walls crumbled outward and blew apart. The limp body of their green haired friend flew out the rubble and lifelessly descended to the earth, battered and bloody, Akame looked at the armor clad figure that leaped from the collapsed wing of the headquarters. Clad in a dark steel armor with a snarling dragon head helmet, the new comer reached for its sword and swiped it outward, a thin trail of blood flying from its razor edge. Akame saw his bright green eyes and brown hair through the snarling maw of the helmet and froze, all she could hear now was the whirling fire and Najenda's scream.
"LUBBOCK !" She shrieked
Authors Note:
A little shorter than usual, my apologies but I did it for pacing reasons XD
Hope you enjoyed it!
What do you think ?
Review!
Thanks a lot guys!
~Phillip